Sterling accepts fee changes, talks zoning at city council meeting

Ambulance contract extended 3 years

STERLING -- The Sterling City Council accepted the city's charges and fees policy for 2012, making a handful of changes to the 2011 policy, but took the opportunity to address the city's zoning ordinance issues as well.

Council member Dan Torres noted during the meeting that most of the fees were implemented between 1989 and 1992 and wondered if things had changed enough around the city to consider a second look.

At least part of that concern came up as a response to comments from Karen Torres, of Sterling's Family Resource Center, at the start of the meeting. She addressed the council with concerns about fees that came with the city's zoning permits.

She said the FRC had moved twice before without hearing about zoning company permits, but had to apply for one after its third move.

"The code is only as useful as it's enforced," she said. "And obviously it's not being enforced."

City Manager Joe Kiolbasa reminded council member Torres the majority of provisions in the city's zoning ordinance allow the council to set fees. But as the Master Plan is still under construction, it might be something to keep in the back of their minds to address after its completion.

Council member Randy Brigham agreed that the ordinances should be addressed after the Master Plan had been completed, and Public Works Director Jim Allen later reminded the council that the planners intended to chart zoning recommendations in the plan.

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"If we're (addressing the ordinance) after the Master Plan is completed, we're doing it with the Master Plan," Brigham explained. "If we try to do it before, we're doing it to justify the Master Plan."

The new charges and fees policy was hardly discussed at the meeting, however, and passed easily. Some of the changes include a $25 study room deposit, $50 community room deposit, $25 per-four-hour fee for for-profit company use and a $25 per-hour after-hours fee at Sterling Public Library. It also adds a $10 party room fee and $25 party room rental deposit were added at the Recreation Center. Kiolbasa said the changes made sense, seeing as the city rents out rooms at other facilities.

The policy also increases opening and closing cremains fees for the cemetery from $280 to $350, as the prior fees didn't account for tent or seeding costs, and adds a $25 photography fee at the Overland Trail Museum. The museum also changed the facility rental fee from $25 to $25 per four-hour period.

The resolution passed 6-0, with Mayor Heather Brungardt absent.

In other council news, the city council accepted a new contract between Sterling and Logan County for ambulance services.

City Attorney Curt Penny said the new agreement, which was agreed to in principle with County Attorney Alan Samber and Sterling Fire Chief Kurt Vogel, would extend the contract three years instead of one year. The language of the contract was also softened to allow reporting requests from the county.

An ordinance approving a motor vehicle lease for ambulances between the city and county, set for approval Tuesday night, was postponed until the last city council meeting of the year on Dec. 11. Penny said he and Samber "were not ready to go on it yet."

The council also:

Unanimously approved an ordinance approving the sale of Sterling-owned real estate to Rosie's, LLC for $115,000.

Unanimously approved a special events permit for the Sterling Elks Lodge, who are planning a comedy night. The event would be held at the Elks Lodge, at 321 Ash St., on Dec. 11 from 5 to 11:30 p.m.

Heard a Sterling Public Works report on the year's projects and upcoming projects for 2013;

Was reminded about an upcoming work session Dec. 4 concerning Sterling Municipal Airport;

Considered accepting a "Shop Sterling" radio advertising deal. The deal would run 45 ads per month across four northeast Colorado radio stations for $815 per month over three months.

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